Creating metadata records and digitizing newly acquired material in the tennessee collection of mineral resources, converting the bethel valley 7.5-minute quadrangle geologic map to level 3 gems,…

The Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation received a $154,268.27 Project Grant award under the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (CFDA 15.814), administered by the U.S. Geological Survey's Office of Acquisitions and Grants. The three-year project (September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2028) focuses on preserving and improving accessibility of the Tennessee Geological Survey's state-wide geological resources. Key deliverables include digitizing and creating approximately 700 metadata records from newly acquired materials in the Sweetwater Mineral District, converting the Bethel Valley 7.5-minute quadrangle geologic map to the USGS Geologic Mapping Schema (Level 3 GEMS), and updating item-level metadata in the Registry of Scientific Collections. The project will also integrate 3,686 collection items (3,110 coal exploration logs and 576 Tennessee Valley Authority documents) into the Survey's ArcGIS Online web map interface.

Additionally, the award supports compilation of critical mineral borehole data for 300 mineral test holes in the South-Central Kentucky-North-Central Tennessee Mineral District using standardized borehole metadata templates, as well as development of a strategic preservation plan for Tennessee's critical mineral resources. These activities directly support the program's dual priorities of preserving geoscience resources and advancing critical minerals data preservation while enhancing public access to Tennessee's geological information repository.

Activities

(L) compile metadata records and convert to a digital format newly acquired files pertaining to the sweetwater mineral district in east tennessee (2) convert the bethel valley 7.5-minute quadrangle geologic map into the U.S. Geological survey S geologic mapping schema (3) update tennessee S item level metadata on the registry of scientific collections (4) add content from the coal exploration logs collection (3110 items) and the tennessee valley authority documents collection (576 items) to the tennessee geological survey S web map application and interface (5) compile data for 300 mineral test holes in the south-central kentucky- north-central tennessee mineral district using the borehole metadata template and (6) establish a plan for preserving critical mineral resources in tennessee.deliverables and expected outcomes: by the end of the award period, we expect to (1) establish approximately 700 digital and metadata files from the U.S. Borax documents (2) upload the geologic map schema databases for the bethel valley quadrangle geologic map to the national cooperative geologic mapping program portal (3) add 3686 documents in the coal exploration logs and the tennessee valley authority documents collections to our web map application (5) compile the location, stratigraphic, and mineralization data for 300 mineral test holes in the south central kentucky-north-central tennessee mineral district and (6) plan for preserving critical mineral resource data in tennessee.intended beneficiary(IES): the activities and deliverables from this project will benefit the public, industry, and agencies at all levels of government, because IT will preserve, catalog, and disseminate geologic data. Replicating the data would necessitate a substantial investment in time, money, and effort. Land use planning will benefit from knowledge of potential geologic hazards, such as abandoned underground coal mines. Easy access to subsurface databases and core samples will help the earth mapping resources initiative identify areas for active exploration and potential future mining for critical minerals needs.

Subrecipient activities

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